Faith
Controversy Erupts Over Lesbian Archbishop
Faith Facts
- The Church in Wales elected Cherry Vann, the first openly lesbian archbishop in Christian history, prompting division within Anglicanism.
- Vann acknowledged the pain of church members leaving over her appointment and recognized the difficulties many have with women and LGBT leaders.
- Global conservative Anglican leaders condemned the election, citing biblical standards and warning of ongoing theological fractures.
The Most Rev. Cherry Vann, serving as bishop of Monmouth and now the archbishop of Wales, has acknowledged the sorrow caused by believers leaving due to her leadership, gender, and sexuality.
“There are still patches all over the place where people continue to struggle with women in leadership and I have to respect that.”
Vann emphasized the Church in Wales’ efforts in outreach to LGBT individuals, while noting that many faithful find these changes challenging for their convictions.
Her election led to strong criticism from conservative Anglican bodies, such as the Church of Nigeria, resulting in broken fellowship with the Church in Wales.
“We must stand again against the relentless pressure of Anglican revisionists who blatantly impose their immorality upon Christ’s precious church,” stated the Most Rev. Laurent Mbanda, chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council, referencing Romans 1:26.
Many see these developments as a dramatic departure from historic Christian doctrine regarding marriage and church leadership, igniting concerns about faithfulness to the biblical Gospel.
As Christians, we must pray that the church holds firm to biblical truth, encourages repentance, and seeks unity through the unchanging foundations of faith, family, and scriptural obedience.